Public consultation on ‘Whanganui District’

The public has until 28 August 2015 to send the New Zealand Geographic Board Ngā Pou Taunaha o Aotearoa (NZGB) views of the Wanganui District Council’s proposal to add an ‘h’ to the name of the district – correcting the spelling to ‘Whanganui District’.

If it proceeds, this change would allow the Council to change its name to ‘Whanganui District Council’.

Received on 11 February 2015, the proposal and supporting information – including results of the Council’s consultation with the community – was considered at the NZGB’s meeting on 29 April. The proposal follows two recent name proposals for the river and town/city, which recognised ‘Whanganui’ as the correct spelling.

“At that meeting, the NZGB agreed to notify the proposal for wider public consultation to give interested members of the public an opportunity to have their say on the proposed change,” says NZGB Secretary Wendy Shaw.

The NZGB is interested in reasons provided with submissions, not necessarily submission numbers; the process is not a ‘vote’. Following consultation, submissions will be analysed and considered when the NZGB meets on 23 September.

“Depending on whether the NZGB upholds or rejects objecting submissions, a recommendation may then be made to the Minister for Land Information to make the final decision. If the proposal is agreed, the Minister will recommend to the Governor-General to change the local authority name under the Local Government Act 2002. This will allow the Council to change its name accordingly.”

Public consultation will be open for three months, from 28 May-28 August. Anyone can make a submission either in support of, or objecting to, this proposal.

Submissions can be made in writing to the Secretary for the New Zealand Geographic Board, via the online forms, or to nzgbsubmissions@linz.govt.nz, or via post to: Level 7, Radio New Zealand House, 155 The Terrace, PO Box 5501, Wellington 6145.

Visit the LINZ website for information about this name, general place naming and the NZGB.

ENDS

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